Array reference behavior in PHP

Question

For the life of me, I can't understand this godforsaken language. This:

$x = explode(' ', 'a b c');
echo $x[0];

works just fine. But:

echo explode(' ', 'a b c')[0];

returns an error. What gives?

+1 biakaveron: I have used that little trick before, but not many people know about the current() function — AntonioCS
– AntonioCS, Commented Mar 24, 2011 at 10:50

mauris · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-24 10:44:43Z

4

It is simply a syntax error, you can use the array brackets [] only on variables in PHP.

Example:

echo $x[0];

edited Mar 24, 2011 at 10:44

mauris

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answered Mar 24, 2011 at 10:42

sharpner

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Comments

pderaaij · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-24 10:43:46Z

2

That syntax isn't supported by the PHP parser, yet. It is called array dereferencing and has been added in the PHP trunk already.

answered Mar 24, 2011 at 10:43

pderaaij

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2 Comments

Hossein Over a year ago

Funny! So PHP parser and trunk developers are out of sync! PHP Parser team had better move fastly!

pderaaij Over a year ago

Not quite true, I believe it is added to the trunk for the new PHP version which can be 5.4 or 6.

Pacerier · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-10 06:29:08Z

1

You can do that in PHP 5.4... it's time to upgrade.

Per the manual:

As of PHP 5.4 it is possible to array dereference the result of a function or method call directly. Before it was only possible using a temporary variable.

As of PHP 5.5 it is possible to array dereference an array literal.

<?php
function getArray() {
    return array(1, 2, 3);
}

// on PHP 5.4
$secondElement = getArray()[1];

// previously
$tmp = getArray();
$secondElement = $tmp[1];

// or
list(, $secondElement) = getArray();
?>

answered Jul 10, 2013 at 6:29

Pacerier

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